Beverage dispenser

ABSTRACT

A beverage dispenser is arranged to be connected to a source of potable water and an electric power supply and also to receive thawed-out beverage ingredient such as juice concentrate. The dispenser is thus arranged to store the concentrate, to cool water, to mix the concentrate and the water in the proper ratio. An important feature includes a flushing system to flush those portions that handle the beverage ingredient such as juice, such portions being those that are downstream of the beverage ingredient storage means.

United States Patent [191 McMillin Aug. 12, 1975 BEVERAGE DISPENSER [75]Inventor: John R. McMillin, St. Paul, Minn.

[7 3] Assignee: The Cornelius Company, Anoka,

Minn.

22 Filed: Aug. 20, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 389,808

[52] US. Cl. 62/177; 137/238; 222/145; 222/146 C; 239/419.5; 222/1;222/148 [51] Int. Cl. F25d 17/00 [58] Field of Search 222/76, 1, 23,129, 129.3, 222/129.4, 134, 135, 148, 145, 146 C; 137/238; 239/112,'113,428.5, 419.5; 62/177 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 709,3029/1902 Case 137/238 932,284 8/1909 Jones 2,462,019 2/1949 Bowman2,738,962 3/1956 Goodrie.... 2,757,839 8/1956 Carew 222/129 X 3,263,8648/1966 Welty et a1. 222/129 3,323,681 6/1967 DiVette et a1. 222/129.33,458,133 7/1969 Wiggins 239/112 3,625,399 12/1971 Heisler 222/76Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-+1. Grant Skaggs,Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or FirmHil1, Gross, Simpson, Van Santen, Steadman,Chiara & Simpson [5 7 ABSTRACT A beverage dispenser is arranged to beconnected to a source of potable water and an electric power supply andalso to receive thawed-out beverage ingredient such as juiceconcentrate. The dispenser is thus arranged to store the concentrate, tocool water, to mix the concentrate and the water in the proper ratio. Animportant feature includes a flushing system to flush those portionsthat handle the beverage ingredient such as juice, such portions beingthose that are downstream of the beverage ingredient storage means.

37 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEB AUG 1 2 19. 5

SHEET .VNN

} PATENTE ausi 2975 BEVERAGE DISPENSER BACKGROUND This inventionpertains to a beverage dispenser of the type that mixes a concentratedbeverage ingredient with water and dispenses the same.

PRIOR ART Beverage dispensers of the mixing type have been used foryears, particularly where the concentrate being utilized constitutes oneof the well known beverage syrups. However, when a concentrated fruitjuice is utilized, dispensing becomes somewhat more difficult not onlybecause of the pul that one finds such as in orange juice, but also thekeeping ability of a thawedout juice concentrate is relatively poor.Once there is spoilage the dispenser must be appropriately cleaned, anda careful operator would much prefer to clean the dispenser sooner.Further, local ordinaces require daily cleaning, and with known type ofdispensers, a considerable amount of time and labor can be expendedduring the time that the dispenser is out of service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a beveragedispenser that is particularly useful with concentrated fruit juices forrestoring them to the original strength by admixing concentrate with theproper amount of water. The dispenser includes built-in means forflushing or cleaning the lines and components that carry such juiceconcentrate from a storage container to the dispensing spout.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide abeverage dispenser which can to a large extent be selfcleaning,including a method for mixing and dispensing a beverage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a beveragedispenser that is particularly adapted for use with a water supply and aconcentrated beverage ingredient.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means by which theamount of air that becomes entrained in the mixed beverage can beregulated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a two-flavorbeverage dispenser that is so constructed that the water-handlingcomponents, the beverage ingredient handling components, the componentswhich handle flushing water, refrigeration system and the electricalsystem can be conveniently packaged in a housing that can be disposedupon a serving counter.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the presentinvention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon makingreference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets ofdrawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating theprinciples of the present invention is shown by way of illustrativeexample.

ON THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a diagrammatic view of a beverage dispenserprovided in accordance with the principles of the present inventionshowing the water and beverage concentrate systems;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the refrigeration system of thedispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the electrical circuitry utilized in thedispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line VV of FIG.2; and

FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view in enlarged scale of amixing spout shown in FIG. 1.

AS SHOWN ON THE DRAWINGS The principles of the present invention areparticularly useful when embodied in a beverage dispenser such asdiagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1, generally indicated by thenumeral 10. The beverage dispensing system has a water inlet 1 l forbeing connected to a supply of pressurized potable water. The inlet 11leads to a strainer 12 which is connected to a pressure regulating valve13 from which a water line 14 extends in the form of a helical coil.Downstream of the water line coil 14, the line is connected to a firstmain or dispensing valve 15, a further main or dispensing valve 16, aflushing valve 17 and a further flushing valve 18. The dispensing valves15, 16 communicate through a pair of lines 19, 20 with a water inlet 21,22 forming part of a mixing and dispensing spout 23, 24. Water from thedispensing valves 15, 16 is also carried by a pair of bypass lines 25,26, each of which has a check valve 27, 28 and a manually adjustablethrottling valve 29, 30. Each of the dispensing spouts 23, 24 has a flowrestrictor 86 by which a back pressure is created.

The beverage dispensing system 10 further includes a pair of storagetanks 31, 32 which may be constructed as a partitioned unit with asingle cover 33. The cover enables air to enter the tanks 31, 32 asliquid flavored beverage ingredient is withdrawn therefrom. Each of thetanks 31, 32 is also referred to herein as a source of liquid flavoredbeverage ingredient. Each of the sources 31, 32 is connected by a line34, 35 to the beverage ingredient inlet 36, 37 of the spouts 23, 24. Theingredient lines 34, 35 each have a check valve 38, 39 preferablydisposed as close to the tank 31, 32 as possible, and the bypass lines25, 26 are connected to the ingredient lines 34, 35 as close to suchcheck valves 38, 39 as is practicable. Each of the ingredient lines 34,35 further includes a control member 40, 41, such control members herecomprising a pump, such as of the peristaltic type driven by an electricmotor 42, 43.

The flushing valves 17, 18 are connected by a pair of flushing lines 44,45 with the beverage ingredient lines 34, 35 close to the point wherethe bypass lines 25, 26 join the ingredient lines 34, 35, suchconnection being upstream of the control member 40, 41.

Each of the dispensing spouts 23, 24 has an air inlet 46, 47 which isconnected to an air throttling valve 48, 49 which enables a selectedamount of air to be drawn into the mixing and dispensing spouts 23, 24,such as air being at atmospheric pressure and obtained from any suitableambient location. (The down-tumed portion of the spouts 23, 24 shouldreally be illustrated as extending downwardly, perpendicular to theplane of the drawing as shown in FIG. 6 in horizontal cross sectionalview).

When the dispensing valve 15 and the control member 40 aresimultaneously energized, pressurized water flows through the line 19into the water inlet 21 and through the flow restrictor 86. Thebackpressure in line 19 upstream from the flow restrictor causes waterto flow through the bypass line 25, the check valve 27 and theadjustable throttling valve 29 which are connected to the suction sideof the pump 40 so that a mixture of beverage ingredient from the checkvalve 38 and water from the throttling valve 29 are drawn into andmetered by the control member or pump 40, the outlet of which isconnected to the beverage ingredient inlet 36. Within the dispensingspout 23, the stream of water and the stream of partially dilutedbeverage concentrate engage against each other to further dilute theconcentrate to the proper degree, a preselected amount of air beingdrawn in and also mixed therewith through the air inlet 86. Theoperation of the dispensing valve 16 and control 41 in bringing water tothe dispensing spout 24 and in bringing beverage ingredient from thesource 32 to the spout 24 is identical to that explained.

When it is desired to clean the system for sanitizing purposes or forthe purpose of changing to a different flavor, the dispensing valve andthe control member 40 are operated until the source 31 is emptywhereupon the same can be readily wiped out. When the flushing valve 17is also energized, clear water flows through the flushing line 44,bypassing the check valve 27 and the throttling valve 29, at a flow rateat least equal to the flow capacity of the control member 40. The checkvalve 27 and the throttling valve 29 do not need to be cleaned becausein their ordinary operation, they handle the same water. However, theflushing water is prevented from entering the source 31 by the checkvalve 38 and is also connected to the upstream sideof the control memberor pump 40, thereby flushing the beverage ingredient line 34 includingthe control member 40 and the inlet 36 of the dispensing spout 23. Inlike manner, the other spout 24 receives flushing water by energizationof the flushing valve 18.

The helical water coil 14 and the beverage ingredient sources 31, 32 arerefrigerated by a refrigeration system shown in FIG. 2. A hermeticallysealed motorcompressor 50 has an output line 51 leading to a condensercoil 52 which is air-cooled by a ventilating fan 53. The line 51 thenleads to a strainer-dryer 54 and thence through several feet of a firstcapillary tubing 55 which typically has an inside diameter of 0.049inch. The line 55 divides at a point 56 and a second capillary tubing 57of smaller inside diameter leads to an evaporator coil 58 which isdisposed in heat-exchange relationship with the sources 31, 32. Thedischarge end of the evaporator coil 58 passes through a downwardlydirected section line 59 (for draining the evaporator coil 58) to anaccumulator 60 which is connected to a suction line 61 leading to themotor-compressor 50. The other branch 62 leads through a solenoid valve63 to a line 64 which is arranged in the form of a vertical helicalcoil, the discharge end, as shown in dashed lines, being also connectedto the lower end of the accumulator 60 via a vertical loop or trap 89which prevents backflow of refrigerant into the helical coil 64 from theevaporator 58. The upper and lower loops of the coil 14 are bonded as at91 to a pair of mounting brackets 92, 93, for a purpose explained below.The helical coil portion of the refrigerant line 64 is disposed withinthe helical water coil 14 as best seen in FIG. 5. Although the turns ofthe helical coil of the refrigeration line 64 are shown as beingconcentric with the individual turns of the water lines helical coil 14,the actual location is at random since the coils are formed after theassembly is made. Refrigerant enters the upper end of the helical coiland exits through the lower end, while the warmer water enters the lowerend of the coil 14 and flows in surrounding relation to the refrigerantcoil and exits at the upper end. The accumulator is disposed within thehelical coil 14, as shown.

To control the refrigeration system which is-common to both of theflavor systems, a first thermostatic control is provided which isresponsive to the temperature of the water line helix 14, and a secondtemperature control 66, shown in FIG. 1 is disposed so as to beresponsive to the temperature of the beverage ingredient source. Thefirst thermostatic control 65 has a sensing element 67 and an electricswitch 68, and is of the limited vapor filled type so that it isresponsive to the coldest part of the sensing element. The sensingsegment 67 is constructed with a zig-zag portion at the lower end of thehelical coil 14 and a shorter zig-zag portion near the upper endthereof. Thus the coldest water which is at the upper end of the helicalcoil 14 is sensed to open the switch 68 and the warmest water, such asfresh incoming water is sensed at the lower end of the water coil 14 tocall for refrigeration. The sensing element 67 extends from the top ofthe water line 14 and is covered with insulation 90 which shields theelements 67 from the cold air around the water coil 14 which air, duringoperation of the refrigeration system, will be colder than the watercoil 14. As is explained below, the switch 68 is in circuit with therefrigeration solenoid valve 63 which is normally closed so that unlessthe thermostatic control 65 is calling for refrigeration, the solenoidvalve 63 will be closed. When refrigeration is called for, thecompressor 50, the fan 53 and the solenoid valve 63 are simultaneouslyenergized.

As seen in FIGS. 2 .and 5 the various portions or stretches of thesensing element 67 lies intermediate adjacent turns of the water helixl4 and in direct engagement with both adjacent turns for ensuring goodheat transfer and for obtaining accurate sensing of water temperature.To maintain the three legs of the upper zig-zag and the four legs of thelower zig-zag in intimate engagement as described, there is provided anarcuate clamp 69 shown only in FIG. 3 which acts through slightlyyieldable insulation 70 to maintain good contact between the sensingelement 67 and the water line helix 14, for example, as'seen between thepoints 67a and 67b. With this arrangement, water flowing through thehelical water coil 14 has extensive and intimate contact with thehelical portion of the evaporator line 64. The bands 91 prevent axialspreading of the loops of the coil 14 when the clamp 69 is tightened.

The evaporator line 58 is in parallel to the lines 62, 64 and iscontrolled only by the capillary tubing 55 and 57 from a refrigerant gasstandpoint, while the second thermostatic control 66 is arranged to turnthe com-- pressor 50 and fan 53 on and off. Thus when eitherthermostatic control 65 or 66 calls for refrigeration, the evaporatorcoil 58 will receive refrigerant gas. There is no likelihood of freezeupin the sources 31, 32 owing to the sugar content of the beverageingredient or concentrate, while the thermostatic control 65 whichtypically operates in the temperature range between 35 and 38 F keepsthe temperature of the coldest water above freezing. A liquid levelsenser 71 has two sensing elements 72, 73, respectively insulatinglydisposed for extending into concentrate in the concentrate sources 31,32. When the liquid level falls below either of them, a circuit isclosed to a warning lamp for indicating that the supply of beverageingredient is low.

The electrical circuitry for operating the beverage dispenser is shownin FIG. 4. The thermostatic control 66 has a switch 74. A line 75 bringspower to the switches 74, 68. The water thermostat switch 68 isconnected to the normally closed stationary contact 76 of 5 a relay 77and is also connected to bring power to the solenoid of therefrigeration valve 63. The movable or armature contact 78 of the relay77 is connected to bring power to the motor of the compressor 50 and tothe motor of the fan 53. Thus anytime that the water coil 14 needsrefrigerating, the thermostatic control 65 energizes theparallelconnected refrigeration valve 63, compressor 50 and fan 53.

The switch 74 which is a part of the concentrate thermostat 66 bringspower to the coil of the relay 77 and also brings power to the normallyopen stationary contact 79. Thus when the switch 74 is closed alone,power is delivered to the compressor 50 and fan 53.

The circuitry for the refrigeration system is independent of otherswitches so that if the dispenser is plugged into a power source, itcannot be shut off accidentally.

Power is also brought through a key-controlled switch 80 which whenlocked is in the open position, thereby preventing unauthorizeddispensing. The keyoperated switch 80 is in series with a master switch81 which controls power for the vending of both flavors. The masterswitch 81 is connected to a pair of dispensing switches 82, 83 which arerespectively connected to bring power to the dispensing valve 15 andmotor 42, and the dispensing valve 16 and the motor 43 respec tively.The solenoids of the flushing valves 17, 18 are also connected toreceive power from the dispensing switches 82, 83 but in the return lineof each of the solenoid valves 17, 18, there is a flushing switch 84, 85so that flushing will take place only when the same is closed. Ifdesired, the actuators may be mechanically ganged. With thisarrangement, either or both of the systems within the dispenser may beflushed. If desired, the switches 84, 85 could be in series with theother terminal of the flushing valve solenoids.

The adjustability of the throttling means 29, 30 has several advantages.One advantage is that the apparatus can be used with beverages that havereconstitution ratios between 1 to 3 and 1 to 5, whereby such ratio isselected. A second advantage is that beverage ingredients reconstitutedat a selected ratio do not all have the same viscosity at a givenoperating temperature. The control members 40, 41 when comprisingperistaltic pumps, have a flexible tube section which decreases in sizeunder suction as a function of viscosity and such decrease iscompensatable by the aforesaid adjustability.

As shown, the check valves 38 and 39 in the ingredient lines 34, 35 arepreferably spaced upstream by a portion 87, 88 of each such line fromthe point at which the flush lines 44, 45 are connected. When thebeverage ingredient is a citrus concentrate, some pulp will occasionallybe trapped against the seat of the check valve 38, 39, thereby slightlyholding the check valve 38, 39 open. This condition is of no consequenceduring ordinary sequential dispensing. However, when one of the flushingvalves 17, 18 is actuated, there is a tendency for flush water to leakpast such partially open check valve 17, 18. This condition is overcomeby the presence of the line portions 87, 88 which contain beverageingredient and pulp, the liquid portion of which thus slightly leakspast the partially stopped-open check valve 38, 39, but thereverse-flowing pulp, under reverse pressure, seals the leak, therebyavoiding dilution of and hence damage to beverage ingredient upstream ofthe check valves 38, 39.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versedin the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within thescope of the patent warranted hereon, all such embodiments as reasonablyand properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A beverage mixing and dispensing system comprising:

a. a source of flavored beverage ingredient of the liquid concentratetype;

b. a mixing and dispensing spout;

c. a line connecting concentrate source to said spout;

d. a selectively actuatable control member in said concentrate line forcontrolling flow of the beverage ingredient through said spout;

e. a normally closed main valve for being connected to a supply ofpressurized water and connected to said spout independently of saidconcentrate line so that the beverage ingredient is mixed with dilutingwater within said spout when said main valve and said control member areactuated; and

f. a normally closed flushing valve for being connected to the samesupply of water and connected to said concentrate line upstream of saidcontrol member, said flushing valve being sized to have a flow ratecapacity which is greater than the flow rate capacity of said controlmember,

whereby beverage is mixed and dispensed when said control member andsaid main valve are jointly actuated, and whereby at least a portion ofsaid concentrate line, said control member and said spout are flushedwhen said control member and said flushing valve are jointly actuated.

2. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 1including a bypass line having a throttling valve therein, said bypassline being connected between said main valve and said concentrate lineupstream of said control member, for partially diluting the beverageingredient upstream of said spout.

3. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 1 in whichsaid spout has an inlet open to the atmosphere and an air throttlingvalve for adjustably controlling the amount of air admixed to thebeverage ingredient and water mixture.

4. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 1 whichincludes a supply of water, said supply comprising:

a. a water line for being connected to a pressurized source of water;

b. a refrigeration system having an evaporator line extending throughand along the length of said water line; and

c. a thermostatic control for said refrigeration system having a sensingelement extending along portions of said water line.

5. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 4 in whichsaid evaporator line is arranged as a helical coil and said water lineis arranged as a helical coil surrounding individual turns of theevaporator line coil.

6. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim in whichsaid sensing element has portions disposed intermediate individual turnsof the water coil in direct engagement with a pair of adjacent turns.

7. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to'claim 6 in whichsaid thermostatic control is of the limited vapor fill type, a portionof said sensing element engaging turns at the inlet end of the watercoil, and another portion of said sensing element engaging turns at theoutlet end of the water coil.

8. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 5 in whichsaid sensing element is arranged in a zig-zag manner in engagement withsuccessive adjacent pairs of the water coil.

9. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 8including an arcuate clamp forcing said sensing element into positiveengagement with said successive adjacent pairs of the water coil.

10. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 5 inwhich the refrigeration system includes an accumulator connecting theevaporator to a suction line, said accumulator being disposed centrallyof said water line coil.

1 l. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 4,including a second evaporator line connected in parallel with saidfirst-named evaporator line and disposed to refrigerate said source ofbeverage ingredient, a second thermostatic control for saidrefrigeration system responsive to the temperature of said source. ofbeverage ingredient, and a valve in said firstnamed evaporator lineunder the control of said first named thermostatic control.

12. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 11 inwhich said first-named thermostatic control includes a switch, saidvalve in said first-named evaporator line being a solenoid valve, and arelay, said switch being connected through a stationary normally closedcontact in said relay to said solenoid valve, said second thermostaticcontrol including a switch connected to the coil of said relay and to astationary normally open contact, the movable contact of said relaybeing connected to power said refrigeration system.

13. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 1 inwhich said main valve is also fluidly connected to said concentrate lineupstream of said control member, said main valve and said control memberbeing of electrical types and being electrically connected in parallel,and a dispensing switch connected in series therewith.

14. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 13 inwhich said flushing valve is a solenoid valve connected in an electricalcircuit parallel to said main solenoid valve and in series with saiddispensing switch, and a flushing switch in said parallel electricalcircuit.

15. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 1 inwhich said control member is a pump.

16. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 15including a check valve in said concentrate line upstream of theconnection of said concentrate flushing valve to said line.

17. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 16 inwhich a portion of the ingredient line is disposed between said checkvalve and the point where said flushing valve is connected to said line.

18. A beveragemixing and dispensing system comprising:

a. a dispensing spout; b. a source of liquid flavored beverageingredient of 5 the concentrate type, including a storage tank, aningredient line connecting said tank to said spout and a selectivelyactuatable control member in said line for controlling flow of thebeverage ingredient through said spout;

c. a diluent line connected to said spout, including a selectivelyactuatable main valve and a flow restrictor downstream of said mainvalve, said line being connectable to a pressurized supply of beveragediluent;

d. a diluent bypass line having throttling means therein, said bypassline being connected to said beverage diluent line intermediate saidmain valve and said flow restrictor, and to said source of beverageingredient intermediate said tank and said control member; and

e. means connected to said control member and to said main valve forsimultaneously actuating said control member and said main valve.

19. A beverage mixingand dispensing system according to claim 18including a check valve in said ingredient line intermediate saidcontrol member and said concentrate tank.

20. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 19including a flush line connected to said ingredient line intermediatesaid check valve and said control member, said flush line beingconnectable to a source of water and being sized to provide a flow rateof water at least equal to the flow rate of said control member.

21. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 20 inwhich said flush line is connected to said diluent line and includesselectively actuatable valve means.

22. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 18including a check valve in said bypass line.

23. A beverage mixing and dispensing system accord ing to claim 18 inwhich said throttling means in said bypass is sized to have a flow rateless than that of said control member.

24. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 23 inwhich said throttling means is adjustable.

25. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 18 inwhich said spout has an air inlet open to the atmosphere, and an airthrottling valve for adjustably varying the effective opening size ofsaid air inlet and therefore the amount of air drawn in with thebeverage ingredient.

26. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage from a supply offlavored liquid beverage ingredient and a separate supply of pressurizeddiluent, comprisa. transferring diluent from the pressurized supplythrough a line at a predetermined rate of flow to a mixing zone whilerestricting flow to maintain at least a portion of the supply pressurein the line;

b. transferring ingredient through a line to the mixing zone;

0. transferring additional diluent at a predetermined rate of flow fromthe diluent line upstream of the flow restriction into the ingredientline to initially dilute the ingredient;

d. controlling the rate of flow of the initially diluted ingredient tothe mixing zone; and

e. mixing the initially diluted ingredient with the firstmentionedtransferred diluent to form the beverage.

27. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage according to claim 26in which the initially diluted ingredient is positively pumped at apredetermined rate.

28. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage according to claim 27in which the step of transferring ingredient is augmented by pumpingsuction, and in which the step of transferring additional diluent isaugmented by said portion of the supply pressure in the diluent line.

29. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage according to claim 26in which the transfer rate of diluent into the ingredient line ismaintained at less than the controlled rate of flow.

30. A method mixing and dispensing beverage according to claim 26including the step of checking against flow of concentrate ingredient inthe ingredient line to the concentrate ingredient supply.

31. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage according to claim 26in which said restricting of diluent flow is at the downstream end ofsaid diluent line to increase its velocity as it enters the mixing zone.

32. A method of mixing and dispensing according to claim 26, includingthe steps of:

a. connecting the supply of pressurized diluent directly to theingredient line; and

b. checking against flow of diluent into the supply of ingredient whilealso checking against flow of ingredient, to thereby flush a portion ofthe ingredient line and the mixing zone with diluent.

33. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage from a supply of liquidflavored beverage ingredient and a separate supply of pressurizeddiluent, comprising concurrently:

a. transferring diluent from the pressurized supply at a predeterminedrate to a mixing zone;

b. transferring ingredient through a line from the ingredient supply tothe mixing zone;

c. transferring additional diluent at a predetermined rate from thepressurized supply into said ingredient line to initially dilute theingredient;

d. controlling the rate of flow of the initially diluted ingredient tothe mixing zone; and

e. mixing the initially diluted ingredient and the firstmentionedtransferred diluent to form the beverage.

34. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage according to claim 33in which the first-mentioned transferring step and the controlling stepare simultaneously initiated.

35. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage from a supply of liquidbeverage ingredient and a separate supply of pressurized diluent,comprising:

a. transferring diluent from the pressurized supply at a predeterminedrate to a mixing zone;

b. pumping ingredient through a line from the ingredient supply whilealso pumping additional diluent from the pressurized supply into theingredient line to both initially dilute the ingredient and to deliverthe initially diluted ingredient at a predetermined rate to the mixingzone;

c. checking against flow of initially diluted ingredient into theingredient supply; and

d. mixing said initially diluted ingredient and diluent in the mixingzone to form the beverage.

36. A beverage mixing and dispensing system comprising:

a. a dispensing spout;

b. a source of liquid flavored beverage ingredient, including a storagetank, an ingredient line connecting said tank to said spout, a checkvalve in said line intermediate said tank and said spout and aselectively actuatable control member in said line intermediate saidcheck valve and said spout for controlling flow of beverage ingredientthrough said spout;

c. a diluent line connected to said spout, including a selectivelyactuatable main valve, said diluent line being connectable to apressurized supply of diluent;

a diluent bypass line having a throttling means and a check valvetherein, said bypass line being connected to said diluent line and tosaid ingredient line intermediate said check valve and said controlmember; and

e. means connected to said control member and to said main valve forsimultaneously actuating said control member and said main valve.

37. A beverage mixing and dispensing system comprising:

a. a dispensing spout;

b. a source of flavored liquid beverage ingredient, including a storagetank, an ingredient line connecting said tank to said spout and aselectively actuatable control member in said line for controlling flowof the beverage ingredient through said spout;

c. a diluent line connected to said spout, including a selectivelyactuatable main valve, said diluent line being connectable to apressurized supply of diluent;

d. a diluent bypass line having throttling means therein, said bypassline being connected to said ingredient line intermediate said controlmember and said vat, and being connected to receive diluent from saiddiluent line; and

e. means connected to said control member and to said main valve forsimultaneously actuating said control member and said main valve, and tothereby control flow in said diluent bypass line.

1. A beverage mixing and dispensing system comprising: a. a source offlavored beverage ingredient of the liquid concentrate type; b. a mixingand dispensing spout; c. a line connecting concentrate source to saidspout; d. a selectively actuatable control member in said concentrateline for controlling flow of the beverage ingredient through said spout;e. a normally closed main valve for being connected to a supply ofpressurized water and connected to said spout independently of saidconcentrate line so that the beverage ingredient is mixed with dilutingwater within said spout when said main valve and said control member areactuated; and f. a normally closed flushing valve for being connected tothe same supply of water and connected to said concentrate line upstreamof said control member, said flushing valve being sized to have a flowrate capacity which is greater than the flow rate capacity of saidcontrol member, whereby beverage is mixed and dispensed when saidcontrol member and said main valve are jointly actuated, and whereby atleast a portion of said concentrate line, said control member and saidspout are flushed when said control member and said flushing valve arejointly actuated.
 2. A beverage mixing and dispensing system accordingto claim 1 including a bypass line having a throttling valve therein,said bypass line being connected between said main valve and saidconcentrate line upstream of said control member, for partially dilutingthe beverage ingredient upstream of said spout.
 3. A beverage mixing anddispensing system according to claim 1 in which said spout has an inletopen to the atmosphere and an air throttling valve for adjustablycontrolling the amount of air admixed to the beverage ingredient andwater mixture.
 4. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according toclaim 1 which includes a supply of water, said supply comprising: a. awater line for being connected to a pressurized source of water; b. arefrigeration system having an evaporator line extending through andalong the length of said water line; and c. a thermostatic control forsaid refrigeration system having a sensing element extending alongportions of said water line.
 5. A beverage mixing and dispensing systemaccording to claim 4 in which said evaporator line is arranged as ahelical coil and said water line is arranged as a helical coilsurrounding individual turns of the evaporator line coil.
 6. A beveragemixing and dispensing system according to claim 5 in which said sensingelement has portions disposed intermediate individual turns of the watercoil in direct engagement with a pair of adjacent turns.
 7. A beveragemixing and dispensing system according to claim 6 in which saidthermostatic control is of the limited vapor fill type, a portion ofsaid sensing element engaging turns at the inlet end of the water coil,and another portion of said sensing element engaging turns at the outletend of the water coil.
 8. A beverage mixing and dispensing systemaccording to claim 5 in which said sensing element is arranged in azig-zag manner in engagement with successive adjacent pairs of the watercoil.
 9. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 8including an arcuate clamp forcing said sensing element into positiveengagement with said successive adjacent pairs of the water coil.
 10. Abeverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 5 in which therefrigeration system includes an accumulator connecting the evaporatorto a suction line, said accumulator being disposed centrally of saidwater line coil.
 11. A beverage mixing and dispensing system accordingto claim 4, including a second evaporator line connected in parallelwith said first-named evaporator line and disposed to refrigerate saidsource of beverage ingredient, a second thermostatic control for saidrefrigeration system responsive to the temperature of said source ofbeverage ingredient, and a valve in said first-named evaporator lineunder the control of said first-named thermostatic control.
 12. Abeverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 11 in whichsaid first-named thermostatic control includes a switch, said valve insaid first-named evaporator line being a solenoid valve, and a relay,said switch being connected through a stationary normally closed contactin said relay to said solenoid valve, said second thermostatic controlincluding a switch connected to the coil of said relay and to astationary normally open contact, the movable contact of said relaybeing connected to power said refrigeration system.
 13. A beveragemixing and dispensing system according to claim 1 in which said mainvalve is also fluidly connected to said concentrate line upstream ofsaid control member, said main valve and said control member being ofeLectrical types and being electrically connected in parallel, and adispensing switch connected in series therewith.
 14. A beverage mixingand dispensing system according to claim 13 in which said flushing valveis a solenoid valve connected in an electrical circuit parallel to saidmain solenoid valve and in series with said dispensing switch, and aflushing switch in said parallel electrical circuit.
 15. A beveragemixing and dispensing system according to claim 1 in which said controlmember is a pump.
 16. A beverage mixing and dispensing system accordingto claim 15 including a check valve in said concentrate line upstream ofthe connection of said concentrate flushing valve to said line.
 17. Abeverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 16 in which aportion of the ingredient line is disposed between said check valve andthe point where said flushing valve is connected to said line.
 18. Abeverage mixing and dispensing system comprising: a. a dispensing spout;b. a source of liquid flavored beverage ingredient of the concentratetype, including a storage tank, an ingredient line connecting said tankto said spout and a selectively actuatable control member in said linefor controlling flow of the beverage ingredient through said spout; c. adiluent line connected to said spout, including a selectively actuatablemain valve and a flow restrictor downstream of said main valve, saidline being connectable to a pressurized supply of beverage diluent; d. adiluent bypass line having throttling means therein, said bypass linebeing connected to said beverage diluent line intermediate said mainvalve and said flow restrictor, and to said source of beverageingredient intermediate said tank and said control member; and e. meansconnected to said control member and to said main valve forsimultaneously actuating said control member and said main valve.
 19. Abeverage mixing and dispensing system according to claim 18 including acheck valve in said ingredient line intermediate said control member andsaid concentrate tank.
 20. A beverage mixing and dispensing systemaccording to claim 19 including a flush line connected to saidingredient line intermediate said check valve and said control member,said flush line being connectable to a source of water and being sizedto provide a flow rate of water at least equal to the flow rate of saidcontrol member.
 21. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according toclaim 20 in which said flush line is connected to said diluent line andincludes selectively actuatable valve means.
 22. A beverage mixing anddispensing system according to claim 18 including a check valve in saidbypass line.
 23. A beverage mixing and dispensing system according toclaim 18 in which said throttling means in said bypass is sized to havea flow rate less than that of said control member.
 24. A beverage mixingand dispensing system according to claim 23 in which said throttlingmeans is adjustable.
 25. A beverage mixing and dispensing systemaccording to claim 18 in which said spout has an air inlet open to theatmosphere, and an air throttling valve for adjustably varying theeffective opening size of said air inlet and therefore the amount of airdrawn in with the beverage ingredient.
 26. A method of mixing anddispensing a beverage from a supply of flavored liquid beverageingredient and a separate supply of pressurized diluent, comprising: a.transferring diluent from the pressurized supply through a line at apredetermined rate of flow to a mixing zone while restricting flow tomaintain at least a portion of the supply pressure in the line; b.transferring ingredient through a line to the mixing zone; c.transferring additional diluent at a predetermined rate of flow from thediluent line upstream of the flow restriction into the ingredient lineto initially dilute the ingredient; d. controlling the rate of flow ofthe initially diluted ingrediEnt to the mixing zone; and e. mixing theinitially diluted ingredient with the first-mentioned transferreddiluent to form the beverage.
 27. A method of mixing and dispensing abeverage according to claim 26 in which the initially diluted ingredientis positively pumped at a predetermined rate.
 28. A method of mixing anddispensing a beverage according to claim 27 in which the step oftransferring ingredient is augmented by pumping suction, and in whichthe step of transferring additional diluent is augmented by said portionof the supply pressure in the diluent line.
 29. A method of mixing anddispensing a beverage according to claim 26 in which the transfer rateof diluent into the ingredient line is maintained at less than thecontrolled rate of flow.
 30. A method mixing and dispensing beverageaccording to claim 26 including the step of checking against flow ofconcentrate ingredient in the ingredient line to the concentrateingredient supply.
 31. A method of mixing and dispensing a beverageaccording to claim 26 in which said restricting of diluent flow is atthe downstream end of said diluent line to increase its velocity as itenters the mixing zone.
 32. A method of mixing and dispensing accordingto claim 26, including the steps of: a. connecting the supply ofpressurized diluent directly to the ingredient line; and b. checkingagainst flow of diluent into the supply of ingredient while alsochecking against flow of ingredient, to thereby flush a portion of theingredient line and the mixing zone with diluent.
 33. A method of mixingand dispensing a beverage from a supply of liquid flavored beverageingredient and a separate supply of pressurized diluent, comprisingconcurrently: a. transferring diluent from the pressurized supply at apredetermined rate to a mixing zone; b. transferring ingredient througha line from the ingredient supply to the mixing zone; c. transferringadditional diluent at a predetermined rate from the pressurized supplyinto said ingredient line to initially dilute the ingredient; d.controlling the rate of flow of the initially diluted ingredient to themixing zone; and e. mixing the initially diluted ingredient and thefirst-mentioned transferred diluent to form the beverage.
 34. A methodof mixing and dispensing a beverage according to claim 33 in which thefirst-mentioned transferring step and the controlling step aresimultaneously initiated.
 35. A method of mixing and dispensing abeverage from a supply of liquid beverage ingredient and a separatesupply of pressurized diluent, comprising: a. transferring diluent fromthe pressurized supply at a predetermined rate to a mixing zone; b.pumping ingredient through a line from the ingredient supply while alsopumping additional diluent from the pressurized supply into theingredient line to both initially dilute the ingredient and to deliverthe initially diluted ingredient at a predetermined rate to the mixingzone; c. checking against flow of initially diluted ingredient into theingredient supply; and d. mixing said initially diluted ingredient anddiluent in the mixing zone to form the beverage.
 36. A beverage mixingand dispensing system comprising: a. a dispensing spout; b. a source ofliquid flavored beverage ingredient, including a storage tank, aningredient line connecting said tank to said spout, a check valve insaid line intermediate said tank and said spout and a selectivelyactuatable control member in said line intermediate said check valve andsaid spout for controlling flow of beverage ingredient through saidspout; c. a diluent line connected to said spout, including aselectively actuatable main valve, said diluent line being connectableto a pressurized supply of diluent; d. a diluent bypass line having athrottling means and a check valve therein, said bypass line beingconnected to said diluent line and to said ingredient line intermediatEsaid check valve and said control member; and e. means connected to saidcontrol member and to said main valve for simultaneously actuating saidcontrol member and said main valve.
 37. A beverage mixing and dispensingsystem comprising: a. a dispensing spout; b. a source of flavored liquidbeverage ingredient, including a storage tank, an ingredient lineconnecting said tank to said spout and a selectively actuatable controlmember in said line for controlling flow of the beverage ingredientthrough said spout; c. a diluent line connected to said spout, includinga selectively actuatable main valve, said diluent line being connectableto a pressurized supply of diluent; d. a diluent bypass line havingthrottling means therein, said bypass line being connected to saidingredient line intermediate said control member and said vat, and beingconnected to receive diluent from said diluent line; and e. meansconnected to said control member and to said main valve forsimultaneously actuating said control member and said main valve, and tothereby control flow in said diluent bypass line.